Within a week, news about Greya’s success was known by everyone inside Brute Cavern.
Many people took the films they captured to magazine offices. Without a doubt, Greya’s deed would soon get acknowledged in the entire wizarding world.
Thankfully, Greya presented her soul in front of the onlookers on that day, so people did not know she had lost her body.
Apart from Greya, gossipers were also interested in the fact that Angor’s illusion assisted Greya with her challenge. At first, most people regarded it as a mere joke, but they all changed their minds when Rein Mute spoke to the public and confirmed it.
Somehow, Angor’s “alchemy trademark” began to show up on the official magazine published by Brute Cavern—The Mirror—which was usually intended for wizards in the organization. People all realized that it had to be Rein who added Angor’s information to the magazine, which further proved to them that the information regarding Angor’s illusion was real.
Since then, people were always wondering what kind of amazing illusion provided Greya with such great help. However, Greya always stayed at Phantom Island, so no one could visit her, let alone borrowing her brooch.
But there were exceptions.
One day, someone saw Flora and Leona entering Phantom Island together. Later, people went to Leona to ask whether she saw Angor’s illusion, and Leona admitted without a second thought. She also claimed that “no wonder Greya gained so much inspiration from it”.
Leona was the only acknowledged professional alchemist in Brute Cavern. Since she said so, those who still had doubts about Angor’s alchemy skills were all convinced.
Once again, Angor’s alchemy potential was placed at the center of the spotlight.
But compared to the last time, when Angor’s name was mainly used by apprentices as a fun subject over their meals, wizards were beginning to get interested in him as well.
The authorities of Brute Cavern were glad to know that a promising Tooling alchemist had joined their ranks. Also, since Angor was relatively “neutral”, all wizards would like to draw Angor to their side or at least remain on peaceful terms with him.
This was exactly what Rein wanted to see. It was extremely hard to find a talented alchemist these days, let alone someone likely to become a master at alchemy. They could not afford to let Angor sacrifice just because of the absurd rivalry among wizards.
Sunders was also happy to see the outcome turning out to be better than he had imagined. He knew it was Rein who manipulated the public opinions, which meant that Rein would like to ensure Angor’s safety in the organization.
...
At Luminous Island, Maya also considered the truthfulness of the rumor she heard.
There was no previous example suggesting that truth-finders could find enlightenment from an illusion to create new spells. In fact, Angor’s “alchemy illusion” was almost a brand new concept ever to be discovered in this world. Few people knew illusion could exist inside items.
She considered and sent a “query” to the streams of fate so that she could find out whether Greya’s achievement had anything to do with the rumored alchemy illusion.
She would send these queries many times a day, and it was rare to receive answers from the streams of fate for real. But each time she did gain something, it would help her learn a lot about what was going on around this world.
This was why Prophets didn’t need to travel around much.
Most information dealers around the wizarding world more or less received their “stock” from Prophets since it was rather laborious to go after sources of information in this expansive world on their own.
Maya was glad that her luck worked out today—she received a hint from the streams of fate soon enough.
“I see... so it is true.” Maya looked a bit surprised as she was expecting the opposite.
The streams of fate did not lie, and there was no way Greya could tamper with prophecy.
Maya shook her head as she thought about Dodoro’s prediction, which suggested the same answer.
She closed her eyes and decided not to think about this matter anymore. Experienced wizards all knew for a fact that they needed more than a simple illusion to gain enlightenment.
Neither Leona nor a powerful wizard like Rein Mute received a noticeable benefit from Angor’s illusion, which meant there were many more aspects for a wizard to make use of it.
...
As the breaking news about Greya and Angor came to prominence in Brute Cavern, a man at Graver’s Cliff snapped the engraving pen in his hand in half.
“Magus” Shildeen was a famous wizard in Brute Cavern who was known as a merciless profit seeker who would do absolutely anything to achieve his goals, like a viper that was lurking in the shadows while drooling over its prey.
Compared to “Miniature Creator” Dumartin, who loved dissecting people’s brains, Shildeen usually had the worse fame among people.
“Greya used some kind of alchemy illusion to win the challenge of truth?” he muttered under his breath.
To Shildeen, his most urgent task right now was to step onto the path of truth. Yet he never succeeded despite all the effort and time he contributed. After seeing what happened at Phantom Island, he had a hunch that the apprentice named Angor might have something to do with this, so he planned to pay Angor a “visit” after Sunders left Brute Cavern. However, the latest statement told him that his plan was pointless because Angor’s illusion only gave Greya minimal help and would not work in anyone else’s hands.
He knew there was no free lunch in this world, and that wizards had to rely on themselves to find the path of truth, but still, he somewhat hoped that he might suddenly find an opportunity that could ease his work.
He thought he had finally found such a chance, but the recent disclosure just denied his hope.
“What’s wrong, professor?” Blackjack was working on an inscription nearby. He was a bit startled when seeing Shildeen’s outburst.
Shildeen cast a glance at Blackjack’s outfit, which was probably copied from Sunders’ style, and showed a disgusted look.
“It’s nothing. Mind your own work.”
With that, Shildeen stood up and flew off.
He thought about visiting Rein and asking whether the ongoing news was Rein’s doing, but on second thought, Rein probably wouldn’t tell him anything useful.
Shildeen didn’t believe Rein’s final statement. Something told him that the whole matter was more complicated than what was revealed.
With this in mind, he decided to go and talk to Maya again. Surely a Prophet like her was capable of revealing the final truth.
An hour later, Shildeen flew away from Luminous Island with a grim look. Maya told him the same conclusion, that Greya was “inspired” in the illusion, while most of her success was brought by her own effort.
It was even confirmed by the “streams of fate”.
Shildeen wasn’t a foolish man who would question the judgment told by the streams of fate.
He returned to Graver’s Cliff with a cold aura lingering around his form.
“Greya, inspiration, alchemy illusion? Heh. I’m going to check what this ‘alchemy illusion’ truly is.”
However, Phantom Island did not allow outsiders, and he was not really Sunders’ friend.
“What about asking Flora? No... I barely knew her.
“Or should I demand that boy to make me an alchemy illusion? But that little b*stard rarely steps away from Phantom Island, and forcing him will only earn me a bunch of haters.”
Blackjack heard Shildeen’s mumble and suddenly spoke up, “Are you interested in that rumored alchemy illusion, professor?”
Shildeen gave him an impatient stare. “None of your fu*king business.”
Blackjack frowned. Ever since he came to Shildeen, he noticed that this man never took him as a real student, especially after he offered his art of inscription to pay for his tuition.
Blackjack more or less knew what was going on. However, he had no hope of changing his fate now—he was nothing compared to a mighty wizard like Shildeen.
He lowered his head so that Shildeen did not see the gleam of hatred in his eyes.
Of course, Shildeen was fully aware of Blackjack’s thoughts, but he just didn’t care—it was a waste of time to mind the grudge of an insect.
Blackjack decided to back away for now. Before leaving the room, he said, “I received info that Angor will sell a new alchemy illusion item at Remnant Coast during the Month of Looming Frost.”
He then closed the door and left Graver’s Cliff.
Shildeen held his chin and mulled over Blackjack’s hint.
“The auction at Remnant Coast? Well well...”